Americans may have been among dead at Juarez prison

EL PASO — Mexican authorities say two U.S. citizens were among 17 inmates killed in a Ciudad Juarez prison when other inmates armed with automatic weapons opened fire on them.

Prison spokesman Hector Conde said on Thursday that Los Angeles native Nicolas Frias Salas, 35, and Luis Adrian Estrada Perez, 28, of El Paso, were among the dead. Authorities say many others were wounded in the incident Monday night.

Prosecutors in Chihuahua state are investigating reports that inmates had a party and were allowed to bring in guns and women, violations of prison rules.

U.S. Consulate spokeswoman Olga Bashbush said prison authorities informed the consulate about the U.S. citizens killed, but could not confirm it until the corpses are identified by relatives.

Earlier, it was reported that surveillance video and police reports suggest that the fighting was plagued by weak controls, disorganization and possible corruption, as well as tensions between local authorities and federal police sent into Ciudad Juarez to keep order.

Video shown on a local television channel indicated guards may have even allowed the bloodbath to happen. The footage showed hooded, armed inmates talking with guards, who then left the area before inmates grabbed cell keys, opened a door and apparently fired on prisoners inside with a machine pistol and an assault rifle.